Khan Admits Streets of London ‘Not Safe’ for Women or Girls

Sadiq Khan has conceded that, under his now almost five-year-long mayoralty, the streets of London are “not safe” for women and girls.

Khan, who under the terms of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 fulfils the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in the capital, made the comments in an appearance on LBC radio.

“London’s streets are not safe for women, are they?” the presenter asked the Labour politician, following news that a serving Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and presumed murder of a 33-year-old marketing executive.

“No, they aren’t, or for girls,” admitted the mayor, who has been in post and responsible for law and order since May 2016 — his term extended after Coronavirus saw local elections postponed for a year.

Khan continued by saying that “it’s really important that people of my gender” — men, presumably — “understand that if you’re a woman or a girl your experiences of our city in any public space, whether its in the workplace, on the streets and public transport, is very different to if you’re a man or a boy, and it’s really important that people like me, in positions of power and influence, understand that, and takes steps to address them.”

Khan did not appear to think the parlous state of law and order in London was anything to do with his governance, however, instead claiming, without evidence, that in British culture “it’s a sign of masculinity to intimidate women and to harass women on the streets” and emphasising social change.